SC audit: Lottery-funded scholarships need review

2014-10-30T00:48:57Z2014-10-30T00:48:57Z

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) -

An audit of lottery spending on education has found that South Carolina's college oversight agencies do not verify that students who receive more than $220 million in lottery-funded scholarships are eligible to receive them.

The Legislative Audit Council report released Wednesday recommends that the agencies review the lottery money it distributes to colleges and technical schools statewide.

The Commission on Higher Education distributes most of that money. It used to review its distributions but stopped after the 2008 recession-era budget cuts. The agency is seeking money in the next budget to renew the practice.

A spokeswoman for the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education says it has begun reviews at three colleges that received large increases or decreases over the last year for student tuition assistance.